Actually, in Black River County, selling oneself into servitude is also a way out.
Many poor families born to low households eagerly want to work in grand residences.
At least they can have a hot meal and a place to shield from the wind and rain.
Moreover, if fortunately, they please the masters, they might rise up.
One day becoming a Steward or a leader.
It is quite respectable.
For example, the fisherman that Bai Qi knew in his previous life.
One of them sold himself to be a Groom.
Life has become quite comfortable.
Because the fine horses of the wealthy households.
Eat better than humans.
Not only are the forages fine, but also include eggs, soybeans, and cornmeal, appropriately mixed.
Such nurtured fine horses do not lose their weight, they are strong and run swiftly.
Being a Groom is like being a cook.
Naturally, they can't resist sneaking bites.
Occasionally skimming some off.
Over time, they too can eat eggs, drink soy milk, and enjoy corn bun.
Far more comfortable than fishing days where it was rare to taste meat or greasy food.
"Rather be a beggar than a slave, did father ever say this?
Moreover, brother, Black River County doesn't nurture idlers, where would beggars come from?"
Bai Ming asked in confusion.
"Of course. Father also said, no talking at meals and no speaking at rest, eat your meal well.
Sooner or later we'll shed the low household status; how could we go and be somebody else's slave!"
Bai Qi lightly tapped Ah Di's head and changed the subject.
Selling oneself into servitude means a lifetime controlled by the masters.
Even if whipped in public, one must shout "Thank you for the reward" to show submission.
Otherwise, in the masters' eyes.
It's considered unprincipled, unruly servant.
Then, it wouldn't just be about a whipping.
Five Thousand Coins or Two Thousand Five Hundred Coins.
Really enough to get Bai Qi through the autumn and winter.
And eat meat a few times, improving the meals.
But those cutting corners also have a bottom line.
Exchanging a brother for money.
In past and present.
He couldn't do such a thing.
"Hurry and finish eating, I'll teach you to write afterwards."
After hurriedly finishing the meal, Bai Qi began practicing writing with a Bald Pen Holder dipped in water under the faint light of the Copper Lamp.
While writing, he made Ah Di Bai Ming follow and read aloud.
The spare father left with nothing but a box of broken books.
If it were Cultivation Classics, historical records of previous dynasties, or medical scripts.
They would be valuable.
At least, some fascinating tales or secretive erotic histories.
People in the county bookstore would buy them too.
A volume could fetch several hundred or thousand big coins.
Sadly, the broken book box by the wall contains dozens of books.
Either the incomplete and fragmented texts, or strange essays being eaten away by insects.
Due to poor condition and mostly unknown authors, they're almost like a pile of waste paper.
Can only be used as enlightenment materials.
"Which story to hear today?"
Bai Ming rubbed his hands, looking excited.
He looked forward to brother teaching him writing and reading every day.
"Let me see, this one is called 'Corpse Transformation', from 'Grass House Notes'."
Bai Qi said.
Among the peeling and worn-out book box, the 'Grass House Notes' is relatively complete.
The story about "Corpse Transformation" records a wealthy family in Ren Family Manor, whose father was instructed by a Feng Shui Master before burial.
The grave's residual shade is thick, capable of protecting descendants.
But the yin is also heavy, requiring the coffin to be relocated after twenty years, or disaster will strike.
However, the irresponsible descendants did not comply, leading to the old man's resentment remaining, transforming into a stiff-haired corpse.
Breaking out on the night of the full moon, causing slaughter.
Luckily, "Daoist Yimei" sensed the rising foul air when passing, calculated the affair.
Hurriedly came to slay the harmful corpse, saving the lives of over a hundred people from the manor.
The story is vividly penned, within a few hundred words, written eerily, the process extremely dangerous.
Plus, the night wind outside the house is strong, making the wooden door clatter.
As if in the pitch-black darkness, a red-haired corpse gnashing teeth and sucking blood is ready to pounce.
Bai Ming shrank his head, looking a bit frightened:
"Brother, are there really zombies in the world?"
"Don't know. Just heard that the dealers at Fishery say, deeper in the reed marsh there's 'Water Ghosts', specializing in pulling fishermen's ankles when they enter the river, as for 'zombies', haven't heard much."
Bai Qi touched Ah Di's head, kindly comforting him:
"Don't be afraid, even if a zombie really shows up, wouldn't the 'Daoist Yimei' be there to save?"
About Half a Stick of Incense after, when Bai Ming used a brush to transcribe 'Corpse Transformation' with water and recognized all unfamiliar characters.
Bai Qi then extinguished the Copper Lamp, leaving the room in darkness.
Only the faint starlight from the sky filters through the door and window.
"Sleep, we still have work tomorrow."
Ah Di is not idle at home every day.
Going out to collect firewood, dig wild vegetables, steam wheat cakes, deliver lunch, etc.
It's all up to him.
As the saying goes, the children of poor families grow up early.
Every day, Fisherman Bai Qi had a hard time fishing.
Many trivial matters were left to Bai Ming to handle.
The two brothers had always been like this.
Depending on each other for survival.
Living through a bumpy life.
"How much money is left at home?"
Bai Qi sat on a bed made of a few wooden planks, pondering how to survive the autumn and winter.
Recently, the prices in the county hadn't risen, with pork at twenty cents per pound, water chicken at fifty cents per pound, and whole geese and ducks ranging from forty to two hundred cents.
Coarse salt was seventeen cents per pound, and sesame oil was a little over thirty cents per pound.
Rice and wheat were about one hundred and sixty cents per peck.
By the time winter comes, there will definitely be some significant hikes.
Especially for fabric and charcoal.
The prices will certainly be higher.
Adding it all up.
During this period.
If there's no income of two or three thousand cents.
The cold and harsh winter will be hard to endure.
Ah Di Bai Ming cautiously crawled under the bed and searched for a long time.
Only to pull out a ragged bag from an inconspicuous clay urn.
He held it like a life treasure, carefully laying out each coin.
Counting again and again, he weakly said:
"Seventy-five cents."
Less than a hundred coins!
Thinking about the rice jar almost empty, and not having enough oil and salt.
The charcoal needed for winter, and the fishery fees for the stall...
Bai Qi couldn't help frowning, a burning impatience filled his heart.
In recent days, fishing hadn't yielded much, and it seemed they were running out of resources.
This couldn't go on.
Fish and shrimp from the river were cheap and wouldn't sell for much, and the fishery would take a cut as well.
In the short term, it's truly difficult to gather enough resources to solve the immediate crisis.
If in the coming days, there still isn't a good haul.
The stable life of the two brothers will be in danger.
"Brother, why not... sell me!"
Bai Ming lowered his head, and after a long pause, squeezed out this sentence.
"Never have such thoughts again.
We brothers have hands and feet, surely we can find a way to live in Black River County without becoming servants!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Qi's face twitched slightly but he wasn't angry, he just softly said:
"The waters of the eight hundred li Black River sustain so many mouths.
The heavens wouldn't have a reason to completely cut off miserable people like us trying to make a living!"
Listening to his brother's steady, reassuring breathing, Bai Ming felt at ease and slowly turned to sleep.
"Even with great diligence and effort, why does life get harder day by day... Life is unbearable, forcing people into servitude, into becoming beasts of burden!"
Bai Qi shook his head and set aside distracting thoughts.
He pondered where to fish tomorrow to hone his fishing skills to a decent level.
River shrimp and fish were hard to fetch a high price.
What was needed were the "big hauls" the county restaurants and martial arts halls demanded.
Only then could he sell them for a good price.
Of course.
The deep waters.
Not only did they foster big fish.
They might also harbor water ghosts and monsters.
They're a lot more dangerous compared to the commonly visited reed marsh by fishermen.
Before sleeping.
Bai Qi's eyelids twitched twice, summoning the black talisman stored in his mind.
Focusing on it, it seemed like countless secret texts interwoven.
And as if infinite traces converged, forming an all-encompassing "Celestial Curtain."
A magnificent phenomenon unfolded, with the sun, moon, and stars, all sorts of auspicious clouds continually floating.
With fleeting shadows of Immortals, dragons, phoenixes, and birds appearing and disappearing.
Truly grand!
It was this very thing that brought him to this world.
Thinking back, Bai Qi only repeated the sixteen words "Begin cultivation, enter sainthood from mortality, from beginning to end, then ascend the true" once.
With a blink, he went from being Boss Bai, skirting the rules,
to becoming a fisherman's child, overwhelmed by a cold, in a coma for three or four days.
Hum!
The black talisman trembled slightly, and cascades of light fell like a waterfall.
Etching out a few clear lines of text,
[Dharma Master: Bai Qi]
[Skill: Fishing (Beginner)]
[Progress: (791/800)]
[Effectiveness: Cast nets, set traps, hard work can compensate for lack of talent, can catch fish in three or five days]
...
[Skill: Literacy (Beginner)]
[Progress: (764/800)]
[Effectiveness: Can read and write, composition flows from the pen, has an extraordinary memory with the presence of a Child Prodigy]